REGISTERED NURSE SPEC-INFECTION CONTR-LW - 60010163

Requisition No: 821520 

Agency: Children and Families

Working Title: REGISTERED NURSE SPEC-INFECTION CONTR-LW - 60010163

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 60010163 

Salary:  $2,035.36 - $2,454.25 Bi-Weekly 

Posting Closing Date: 05/19/2024 

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The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) is the state of Florida’s social services agency. The agency oversees services for child safety, fostering, adoption, domestic violence, adult protective services, refugees, homelessness, mental health, substance abuse, childcare providers, human trafficking and public assistance. The agency’s mission is to work in partnership with local communities to protect the vulnerable, promote strong and economically self-sufficient families, and advance personal and family recovery and resiliency.

Within DCF, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health (SAMH) Program office is recognized as the single state authority for substance abuse and mental health services. The Office of SAMH is statutorily responsible for the planning, evaluation, and implementation of a comprehensive statewide system of care for the prevention, treatment, and recovery of children and adults with serious mental illnesses or substance use disorders.

Northeast Florida State Hospital (NEFSH) is a 613-bed, licensed mental health treatment facility that provides person-centered services to adults suffering from severe and persistent mental illness. The hospital, located in Macclenny, was established in 1959 and is the largest state operated civil treatment facility. 

NORTHEAST FLORIDA STATE HOSPITAL IS A TOBACCO FREE FACILITY.

TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS POSITION RESPONSES TO THE QUALIFYING QUESTIONS ARE REQUIRED AND MUST BE VERIFIABLE BASED ON YOUR SUBMITTED APPLICATION.

This is a highly responsible and professional position that will serve as a Registered Nurse Specialist (Lead) Infection Control at the Northeast Florida State Hospital. This position will collaborate with each section within the state facilities and be required to use independent judgement, take initiative in carrying out duties and responsibilities and should be extraordinarily detail oriented. 

Specific Duties and Responsibilities include:

• This is a highly responsible position in the Infection Control Department of Northeast Florida State Hospital. 
• Serves as the designee for the Infection Control Department in the absence of the Infection Control Director or as assigned and as Lead Worker. 
• Responsible for assurance of patient confidentiality related HIPAA Guidelines.
• Serves as a consultant to the IC Supervisor.
• Reports epidemiological significant findings to management. 
• Identifies and evaluates situations which place the persons we serve and employees at risk. 
• Formulates timely interventions to ameliorate risks. 
• Acts as the designee for the Infection Control Department in the absence of the Infection Control Director or as assigned. 
• Maintains active 501 HIV and current Counselor certification.
• Responsible for the development of Infection Control Policies & Procedures and updates to ensure compliance with State / Federal Regulations & CDC Guidelines. 
• Oversees and participates in the development and interpretation of medical / nursing standards and operating procedures regarding Infection Control to ensure treatment excellence and efficiency. 
• Coordinates studies to evaluate program effectiveness hospital-wide and to ensure compliance with current care standards, and customer satisfaction. 
• Keeps abreast of current trends, laws, and regulations pertaining to Infection Control Standards to ensure optimum customer satisfaction. 
• Responsible for maintenance and all data related to persons served and employee screening, counseling, education and testing and the formulation and completion of reports as indicated weekly and monthly. 
• Responsible for the ongoing surveillance analysis and reporting of facility acquired infections / diseases. 
• Collects and interprets data on nosocomial infections daily and compiles monthly surveillance report. 
• Infection Control risk assessments for construction projects.
• Responsible and assists with the following:
  • HIV Risk Assessment and pre and posttest counseling and follow up to all admissions and existing person served population; administration of the Hepatitis Vaccine Series (doses 1, 2, and 3) for all persons served that are enrolled in the program in a timely manner; administering Pneumovax vaccine to persons served, as ordered by Primary Care Physician; employee and persons served significant exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens investigation and follow up; coordinating and administering the Influenza vaccine to all person served and staff yearly during the month of October; administration of persons served initial and annual PPD’s during the anniversary month of their yearly physical exam; provide 1:1 counseling to persons served with positive PPD reaction and requiring prophylactic medication for Tuberculosis and monitors medication compliance; employee’s PPD testing, Hepatitis Vaccine, Influenza Vaccine administration to ensure safe and secure environment; performs N95 Fit testing for employees. 
  • Ensure that everything is documented correctly in Immunization Record, Medication Administration Record, Infection Control Progress Notes and Infection Control database. 
  • Coordinates information with Primary Care Physicians and Pharmacy Departments.
• Provides Primary Care Physicians with necessary data for 7000 Form and prior to any admissions to Northeast Florida State Hospital, to improve excellence, and cost efficiency by avoiding unnecessary duplication of Hepatitis B series to persons served. 
• Provides persons served with education on HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases, post exposure incident or as requested by Treatment Team. 
• Provides on-going staff education on Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and HIV 104 and other Infectious Disease Programs as needed.
• Assist with overseeing the Clinic operations for Gynecology, Dermatology, Neurology, Ophthalmology, Optometry/Optical and Bone Density. 
• Duties include setting appointments, providing hands-on assistance for each consultant with examination, preparing equipment for biopsies, minor surgical procedures, pap smears, cultures, etc. 
• Responsible for ordering supplies and maintaining inventory for each Clinic, documenting refusals and reporting to Registered Nurse assigned to living area and Service Team when indicated. 
• Completes necessary pre-clinic and post-Clinic paperwork. 
• Collects, prepares and distributes monthly statistical data of Clinics utilization for contract manager and Infection Control Department Medical Unit Specialist for inclusion in Unit Summary of Performance.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities required for the position:

• Knowledge of nursing principles, practices and techniques.
• Knowledge of human anatomy and physiology.
• Ability to provide emergency nursing services.
• Ability to participate in the planning and implementing of treatment for patients.
• Ability to conduct individual and group therapy sessions.
• Ability to work with patients having a variety of physical or emotional problems.
• Ability to observe patients' reactions to medications.
• Ability to plan, organize and coordinate work assignments.
• Ability to communicate effectively.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
• Ability to effectively interview and assess the health care of clients.
• Ability to analyze complex reports and determine the service utilization habits of clients and to evaluate the appropriateness of that utilization.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Licensure as a Registered Professional Nurse in accordance with Florida Statute 464 or eligible to practice nursing in accordance with Florida Administrative Code 210-8.27 and two years of professional nursing experience or Bachelor of Science degree in nursing.
• Two years’ experience in a supervisory or administrative capacity.
• HIV 501 Certification Required.

Preference will be given to applicants who have:

• Five or more years of experience as a Registered Nurse in Infectious Disease or Public Health.
• Experience with developing and implementing infection control protocols.

Benefits of Working for the State of Florida:

• Health insurance
• Life insurance; $25,000 policy is free plus option to purchase additional life insurance
• Dental, vision and supplemental insurance
• Retirement plan options, including employer contributions
  • (For more information, please click www.myfrs.com);
• Nine paid holidays and one Personal Holiday each year;
• Flexible Spending Accounts;
• Opportunities for career advancement
• Tuition waiver for public college courses

For a more complete list of benefits, visit www.mybenefits.myflorida.com.

DCF EMPLOYMENT DISCLOSURES

US CITIZEN REQUIREMENT Only US citizens and lawfully authorized alien workers will be hired.

SELECTIVE SERVICE SYSTEM REGISTRATION All selected male candidates born on or after October 1, 1962, will not be eligible for hire or promotion into an authorized position unless they are registered with the Selective Service System (SSS).  Verification of Selective Service registration will be conducted prior to hire.  For more information, please visit the SSS website: http://www.sss.gov.

RETIREE NOTICE If you are a retiree of the Florida Retirement System (FRS), please check with the FRS on how your current benefits will be affected if you are re-employed with the State of Florida. Your current retirement benefits may be suspended or voided, and you required to repay all benefits received depending upon the date of your retirement.

BACKGROUND SCREENING It is the policy of the Florida Department of Children and Families that any applicant being considered for employment must successfully complete a State and National criminal history check as a condition of employment before beginning employment, and, if applicable, also be screened in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 435, F.S., and Chapter 408, F.S.  No applicant may begin employment until the background screening results are received, reviewed for any disqualifying offenses, and approved by the Agency.  Background screening shall include, but not be limited to, fingerprinting for State and Federal criminal records checks through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and may include local criminal history checks through local law enforcement agencies.

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer, and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.

VETERANS’ PREFERENCE.  Pursuant to Chapter 295, Florida Statutes, candidates eligible for Veterans’ Preference will receive preference in employment for Career Service vacancies and are encouraged to apply.  Certain service members may be eligible to receive waivers for postsecondary educational requirements.  Candidates claiming Veterans’ Preference must attach supporting documentation with each submission that includes character of service (for example, DD Form 214 Member Copy #4) along with any other documentation as required by Rule 55A-7, Florida Administrative Code.  Veterans’ Preference documentation requirements are available by clicking here.  All documentation is due by the close of the vacancy announcement.